Wednesday, September 30, 2015

This rock looks like a big fat potato. I usually do not pick them up this size -- I could not put this in my pocket on my walk. It will compliment the other 69 rocks nicely. Weighs approximately 1 pound 8 ounces.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

I love finding rock stacks that I did not create! Always a treat to see someone else's. This was a nice little stack complete with a few tumbled stones on the stairway up from the shoreline in Cambria, where I went for my rock search today.

The tide was way out, and I spotted a rock that has a lot of pink in it. I love pink so it was a natural selection! Measures approximately 3" across.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Field trip! My brother and I walked miles at the Chrystal Springs Reservoir this afternoon in San Mateo. What a lovely place! Deer, loons, and a variety of trees, shrubs and flowers... Check out THIS rock!

Not many small rocks but found this one right away. Measures approx 2 1/4".

Saturday, September 26, 2015

I have not taken the time to learn Rock Identification. I am stepping out on a limb to call this one "jasper". It is a dirty red and has white lines and areas in it. It measures approximately 1 7/8" across. It is quite smooth.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

This is a wonderful rock! It has some of my favorite coloring: a teal green blue mix. There is a sage green color streak and there are bits of shiny particles that are like silica. It is a gorgeous rock measuring approx 3 1/4" long.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Again the heat today took me to the little cove I found yesterday. I sat under the shade onthe sand, and watched the ocean come sweep the shore in rythmic intervals. I dipped, and I wandered, and I found this large rock ~ and inside of it is a small rock. Delight. Measures approximately 7 inches (larger than a Russet Potato)

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Another hot day in this fair town drove me to the ocean shore again to seek cool. I found a very small cove by Moonstone, that was partially shaded by the ancient pines holding on to the rocky bluff. The sand there is very black and gritty. I was able to let the surf wash over my feet and it was nice and cooler as I sat in the shade. I was alone in the cove except for the half a dead fish skull and the little ground squirrel above on the bluff burying or digging all while keeping an eye on me.Today's selection is from this cove. It is no wonder this rock is gritty as well. it has a suubtle line of ridges that indicate a leveling wearing away. I like this rock. I am pleased to present it to you today. Measures approximately 2 1/2", and is the exact shape of the cove where I found it.

Friday, September 18, 2015

I looked for a rock when I went to the Salinas River Beach today but there wer not any. Seriously. There were, however, an inordinate number of dead gulls. I wonder what was going on .So, since I love these landscape rocks enough to keep 'em comin', I filched another from my cousin's yard.....this one is a lovely light gray and is approximately 2" across. Fat thing too. Love it.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

I almost forgot to get a rock today. I knew that would happen eventually. I scooted outside at my cousin's house and found a landscape rock. I appreciate landscape rocks, because (I like rocks, but also) they are a pretty substitute for a water-thirsty area.

This rock is approximately 2 3/4"at the longest, and was nestled in with its rockmates under a shrub.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

I had lunch with a geologist today. I told her about my rock a day blog. She was kind. She suggested I get a book on rock identification. I did buy a deck of cards of same....just haven't opened it yet.

I have never found a black rock at this beach before. It is really black, unlike the photo. It measures approximately 1" across.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

This is one of the beautiful rocks I found in San Simeon. I have decided to post as many of them as possible, at one a day, until I have shared them all. This one is a nice reddish tone with lots of white streaks. It is approximately 3" long.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

I found so many amazing rocks today that again it was hard to choose one for my post. I finally selected this one because it has obsidian within it and lots of swirly white around it. It looks like an aerial photograph of the atmosphere.

Saturday, September 12, 2015

My Mother was born on Sept 12 1927. Today is her birthday. She taught me to love these dark gray and black smooth water-washed stones that I now love so much. She collected them at the beach, and when she couldn't, I collected them and gave them to her. She had bowls of them.

I appreciate so many things I learned to love because she showed them to me. This rock measures approx 2" and I dedicate this selection to my mom.

Friday, September 11, 2015

Today I was up the coast in San Simeon to watch a friend fly a model glider. It was a windy day, and they were proacticing for a competition tomorrow. I watched ahwile and then looked for rocks.

I found this very smooth (on one side only) unusual rock -- it feels and has the sheen of flint and I am wondering if it was actually worked on at one point. If it were, of course I would need to return it to the place found -- but after examining it, I decided it was not a tool after all, but a womderful rock to select for today.Measures approx 1 1/4".

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Today I had quite a rock-hunting adventure. I found a beach that had areas of beautiful stones of all colors, so I gathered a number of them and piled them on the sand for a photo:

Well, as if that was not enough, I found rock photo op's everywhere. Here is one of my favorites:

Then I decided to photograph the wet rocks where the waves had been washing onto the shore. The tide was very strong, so I kept missing the shot, and got a lot of foam photos.

I became so involved in trying to capture the wet stones, that I forgot the first rule of beachcombing: NEVER turn your back on the ocean....and in this case, I was not watching the waves that were coming in so powerfully.

And I got swept off my feet WHAM!

It is kind of like texting and driving: don't. I knew better but I got distracted and althoghthe coolwater was mighty refreshing today, I came away with some cuts and bruises from the beating I got in the tide. I am lucky that is all I got.

So here is my selection for today. Out of all the ones I brought home, I love this one for its subtle changes in color:

About Me

Anne Seltzer is an artist residing in Southern California. She received her MFA in Painting from Claremont Graduate University in 2008. Her paintings may be viewed in the Sam Maloof Foundation permanent collection in Alta Loma CA, and work for sale is available through Anne Seltzer's Art Work Studio. She has published two books: "P.S.: Guess Who's Coming to Supper?" and "The Rock People: An Alternate Community"